Mercy For Animals Report Grades 48 Food Giants on Cage-Free Equity, Finds 34 Falling Short

A recent report by Mercy For Animals has assessed 48 multinational food companies on their commitment to cage-free egg sourcing, revealing that 34 of them are failing to meet expectations or do not report adequate regional data. The Global Egg Transition Index & Transparency Report (EGG-XIT 2026) highlights significant disparities in progress, especially in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, compared to North America and Western Europe.

The evaluation assigns a progress score and an equity score to each company. Five companies achieved the “Fulfilled” tier by reporting 100% cage-free sourcing, while Rewe Group was the only one to attain a Gold tier status. Conversely, notable low-ranked companies include Walmart, which is criticized for its limited geographical commitment, and Unilever, which dropped its global commitment after meeting it in select regions. The report emphasizes the need for consistent welfare standards for animals and calls for transparency in corporate reporting practices regarding cage-free egg sourcing.